Lilies of the valley contain a toxic substance called convallatoxin, or convallarin. It is a cardiac glycoside and is used as a medicine for heart diseases. If you eat any part of the flower, it will cause severe poisoning, which can provoke heart problems, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and even death. Moreover, all of the plant material of lilies of the valley contains the substance: its fruits, roots, and leaves. Tasting the flower is strictly forbidden!
Lilies of the valley can also cause irritation of the skin and mucous membranes if you come into contact with them. If the sap of a lily of the valley gets on the skin, redness, itching, and inflammation may appear.
Cute, funny, but so dangerous: animals you can only look at If you plan to use lilies of the valley as decorative flowers or for aromatherapy, do not forget to take precautions and do not consume them as food. It is also not recommended to use lilies of the valley as a medicine without consulting a doctor or pharmacist.
It is important to remember that lilies of the valley - are beautiful and fragrant flowers, but they pose a danger if handled improperly. In the event of any symptoms of lily-of-the-valley poisoning, you must seek medical attention immediately.
By the way, in the central region of Russia the May lily of the valley has already been removed from the Red Book, since the plants have restored their numbers. Nevertheless, we recommend treating with care not only your own health, but also nature - do not pick lilies of the valley without need. After all, it is far more pleasant to walk past a flowering meadow and admire «the greeting of warm May».
